EARLY MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTY POOR�OVERSEERS OF THE POOR�FARMING OUT PAUPERS�POOR FARM AND ITS MANAGEMENT�COST OF MAINTENANCE, ETC

An important element in the local economy of every community, and one of the distinctive features of our civilization, is the measure of charity extended in providing for and maintaining the poor and indigent, relieving the distresses and attending to the necessities of those unable or incompetent to take care of themselves. Public policy demands that ample provision be made by the people�s representatives in every locality, to secure this branch of society against want, by an economic distribution of the common surplus of home products. The history of this community, in common with that of every other, especially in the great Northwest, shows that active, living charity is an integral quantity in our body politic, a prime factor in the movements of the people, everywhere. As a means to this end, provision is made by the law-making power of the State for the exercise of a liberal charity toward all who are entitled to be recipients of public benefactions.

Among the first provisions made by law, for alleviating the wants of the poor, was in directing the appointment of Overseers of the Poor, whose duty it was to hear and examine into the nature of all complaints in behalf of the poor, in each civil township of the county, and see that their wants were sufficiently provided for; that such should not suffer for the common necessaries of life, nor be ill treated. It was also made the duty of these overseers, to keep a record, in which should be transcribed the names of all persons in their respective townships, who were unable to take care of themselves, and who, in their opinion, were entitled to the benefits so provided for the maintenance of those unfortunates.

A further provision made it necessary for them to put out as apprentices, all poor children whose parents were dead, or were found to be unable to maintain them, males until the age of twenty-one, and females until the age of eighteen years. The general provision governing the duties of such over seers is as follows: It shall be the duty of the Overseers of the Poor, every year, to cause all poor persons who have or shall become a public charge, to be farmed out, on contracts to be made, on the first Monday in May, annually, in such manner as the said overseers of the poor shall deem best calculated to promote the public good. Provided, nothing herein contained shall prohibit any Overseers of the Poor from receiving and accepting propositions at any time, for the keeping of such poor and others, who may at any time there after become a county charge; Provided, however, that the Board of County Commissioners of the several counties in this State, may, in their discretion, allow and pay to poor persons who may become chargeable as paupers, who are of mature years and sound mind, and who, from their general character, will probably be benefited thereby, such annual allowance as will be equal to the charge of their maintenance, by employing the lowest, bidder�to keep them; the said Commissioners taking the usual amount of charges in like cases, as the rule in making such allowance: Provided, however, that the Overseers of the Poor, in no case, shall farm out any pauper under the age of twenty-one years, if a male, or, if a female, under the age of 18 years if such overseer of the poor can possibly bind out as apprentices any such paupers.

For the purposes contemplated in the foregoing act, such overseers of the poor for the several townships, were made, in name and infact, bodies corporate and politic in law, to all intents and purposes with perpetual succession, liable, by the name of The Overseers of the Poor, of their respective townships, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts of jurisdiction, and by that name * * purchase, take or receive any lands, tenements or hereditaments, goods, chattels, sum or sums of money, to or for the use of the poor of their respective townships, of the gift, alleviation or devise of any person or persons whomsoever; to hold to them, the said Overseers and their successors, in trust, for the use of the poor forever.

The Legislature, in the enactment of this law, had in contemplation in the near future, the erection of proper buildings, such as the County Commissioners might prescribe, to be used as an asylum for the poor who might become permanent charges, as paupers, on the�county. During the early years of the county�s history, but little progress toward the development of a more practical method of providing for the wants of the poor and indigent of the jurisdiction, appears to have been made by the local legislative authority. In the course of time, however, advance steps were taken, the results of which became manifest in the improved condition of the recipients.�

The first mention we have in the records of the county of any proceedings had indicating a definite purpose to establish an asylum or infirmary for the protection and maintenance of the unfortunate and needy, appears at the February session, 1851, of the Board of County Commissioners, when it was Ordered, that a notice be published in the Whig Banner, that all persons desirous of selling land for a poor-farm of Delaware County, to contain 130 to 200 acres, may hand to the board at their next June session, on the first day thereof, sealed proposals containing a full description of the land, price and terms of payment�must be not less than one nor more than five miles from Muncie.

Pursuant to that notice, at the June session, the board having received, examined numerous proposals of the character prescribed, and, of the several tracts of real estate referred to, finally accepted the proposal and site of Enoch Hagenbuck, with this change and condition: $1,200 to be paid on January 1, 1852, and the balance one year after, all without interest, the vendor surrendering possession to the county, on the 15th of September following. At the session in August, 1851, it was Resolved, that the contract between Enoch Hagenbuck and the Auditor, for the purchase of a poor-farm, be confirmed, the contract being as follows, to wit: First payment, one order for $600; one for $550, and one for $500, payable� January 1, 1852; second payment, one order for $800, payable June 1, 1853. In December 1851, a special session was had, when the board, in consideration of the premises and the purchase a foresaid, appointed Samuel D. Andrews, Superintendent of the Poor Farm, at a salary of $230 per annum, and appointed, also, Samuel V. Jump Physician, with instructions to make visits regularly, once every two weeks, and also when called, at a salary of $50 per annum.

At the June session, 1852, Mr. Andrews, the Superintendent, filed his first annual report. Under a subsequent arrangement, the farm was leased on the terms that the lessee should pay a stipulated sum for the use of the premises and take�charge of and provide for the wants of such persons as were placed under his care, at a fixed rate per capita. At the regular March session, 1854, the board leased the farm to� Enoch Allbright, for a term of three years, the latter agreeing to pay $180 per annum, and to feed, clothe and take care of persons sent there at the rate of $114 per annum, per head, on the farm; except children, for which $1 per week would be allowed, and at the same rates for all others so sent there.

The management of the Poor Farm was conducted, during the years succeeding, in much the same manner as in the years preceding. At�the December term, 1859, the Commissioners directed the Auditor to give notice, by publication in the Delaware County Free Press, that sealed proposals would be received until February 4, 1860, for leasing the Poor-Farm for the year succeeding. This method prevailed for several years subsequently, for the selection of persons to take charge of the farm, provide quarters and furnish subsistence for the poor of the county sent there, pursuant to the provisions of law, as an asylum where they might, for a small pecuniary consideration, be supplied with the necessaries of life and shielded from the inclemency�s of weather, and otherwise treated according to the dictates of a common humanity.��

From June 1,1877, to June 1,1878, the revenue derived from the surplus products of the farm, amounted to the sum of $229.95, while the expenditures for the maintenance of the same were $3,437.76. The expenses of this department for the year 1879 amounted to $1,924.73. For the year 1880, the expenses of the Poor Farm, as shown by there port of the Auditor submitted to the Board of Commissioners at the close of that fiscal year, were $2,452.48. In addition to this sum, that was paid out in aid of the poor, during the past year, $5,992.28. (Page 52)